Phillies are on Life Support

Game 4 in San Francisco made most Philadelphia fans nauseous. That was a game the Phillies needed to win and should have won. I put this one on Charlie Manual and here's why:

1) Jose Contreras pitched to 2 hiters in the 5th inning (6 pitches) and looked great. He should have pitched the 6th inning, but instead Charlie uses Chad Durbin who proceeded to walk 2 hitters and give up 2 critical runs. Momentum swung back to the Giants then.

2) In the 8th after Werth doubled in Howard to tie the game, Jimmy Rollins simply has to bunt. Manual claims that Rollins always hit it to the right side of the infield anyway. Getting Werth to 3rd base with less than 2 outs was paramount. Manual should have bunted Rollins. No ifs, ands or buts. Horrible managing.

3) Buster Posey has killed the Phillies and last night in the 9th, Oswalt should have pitched around him. A walk would have been better than a double. I think the Phils would have gotten out of the inning if Posey was walked or chased a bad pitch or two in the dirt.

Manual has to get his head out of his ass tonight and manage by the book. His gut feeling style of management won't work this series.